Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) Read Free Page A

the clop, clop of the horses’ hooves had faded into the distance. Her mind reeled in indecision. Finally, she wheeled around and sent two piercing whistles into the night.
    Several minutes later, a whizz and pop heralded the approach of a pop-cab. In spite of its ridiculous appearance, like a miniature outhouse set atop a large tricycle, it would get her to her destination faster than walking or using one a horse-drawn carriage. Besides, the noise of the pop-cabs now taking over the streets easily startled the horses, making coach travel almost dangerous these days.
    “Evening, M’ Lady.” A scruffy, wiry man doffed his newsboy cap and gave her a deep bow. “What can I help you with tonight?”
    “Number twenty-nine, Pollberry Court, if you please,” she said in a precise tone, and picked up her heavy skirts as the little man opened the door of the cabin to allow her to enter. She stepped in and settled herself on the narrow seat.
    “Hoo, hoo, Pollberry Court is it? A very lovely part of town.” The cabbie hopped up on the seat of his cycle and released the brake. “And what’s a swell like you doing out this late with no one to escort you?”
    “That’s certainly none of your business,” Belle said through the small window cut into the cabin just behind the cabbie’s head. She took her folded fan and rapped sharply on the edge of the sill. “Now hurry along or I shall make sure your tip reflects the delay.”
    The cabbie gave a whistle, raised an eyebrow, and pushed the other lever to the front as he started the forward motion by pressing the peddles with his feet for a good two or three spins. With a pop and a spurt of steam, the little vehicle lurched and then sped off down the street, the momentum throwing Belle back against her seat. She would certainly be happy when these pop-cab drivers learned better control over their gears.
    Fortunately, the cabbie had no further mishap and they pulled up before her home with a loud pop and a fizz of steam vapor in only ten minutes. She gave the cabbie some coins and then climbed the stone steps to the door of her townhouse.
    “Good God, Jasper. Are you still up?” she exclaimed as she opened the door and found her butler just inside, still dressed in his formal black butler suit with tails. “You know I don’t expect you to stay up when I go to a party.”
    She pulled off her gloves, annoyed at how her servants needlessly coddled her. She was the mistress of her own home, head of an international business and yet they still insisted on treating her like a young girl in pig-tails.
    “I’m sure My Lady is more than capable of handling her own affairs,” Jasper said stiffly as he helped her off with her pelisse, his thin face pinched in displeasure. “However, I hope you don’t expect me to live here, take your money, and not fulfill my duties. Such a course would certainly be quite repugnant to me.”
    Belle turned her head to hide her smile. When she had composed her features, she handed him her gloves and said, “Well, then since you’re up, I’d like a glass of sherry. Bring it into the library, if you please.”
    “Of course, My Lady. I also have a package for you. It came about half an hour ago.” He held out a small square shape that had been hastily wrapped in brown paper and tied with string.
    “At this time of night?” She looked at the hall clock. It was near three o’clock in the morning. It seemed like only a few minutes ago it had been ten at night with the ball just starting and her father disappearing, abruptly ending the festivities.
    She frowned and took the package, turning it over in her hands. Her name was printed on the front with a frank mark from the Royal Asburry Hotel.
    “Exactly my thought, My Lady. And if you had seen the young person who delivered it you would have been even more surprised.” He sniffed. “I don’t hold with foreigners, never did. Now that we have the new airship port, we have these strange individuals